Tanzania: government officials discuss implementation of international humanitarian law

04-09-2012 News Release

Dar es Salaam (ICRC) – Twenty government officials attended a seminar on national implementation of international humanitarian law (IHL) in Dar es Salaam on 29 August. They shared experiences and discussed ways of introducing the principles of IHL into national legislation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation hosted the seminar, which it organized jointly with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Tanzania Red Cross Society.

IHL aims to limit the effects of armed conflict. "New IHL instruments are adopted from time to time and they require additional implementing measures by States," said Angela Kairuki, the deputy minister of justice and constitutional affairs, who inaugurated the seminar. "It is therefore desirable that ministerial departments associated with humanitarian issues coordinate their efforts to effectively implement IHL treaties."

The deputy minister also reiterated that IHL sets out the rights and obligations of the parties to a conflict, and rules on the conduct of hostilities and on the treatment of the sick, the wounded, prisoners of war and civilians. "There is a need for more rigorous and effective implementation of IHL in order to preserve human life and dignity," she said.

The ratification, implementation and promotion of IHL treaties were among the topics discussed at the seminar, as was the impact of IHL in today's world. A round table considered the way forward for Tanzania, which could involve setting up a national IHL committee and making it a priority to give domestic force to the Geneva Conventions.

Tanzania demonstrated its commitment to IHL by ratifying the 1949 Geneva Conventions in 1962 and their 1977 Additional Protocols in 1983. The ICRC will continue to support Tanzania in its efforts to promote and implement IHL through national legislation.